HISD to give pink slips to about 730 teachers

About 730 teachers in the Houston Independent School District won’t have jobs next year due to state budget cuts and, in some cases, poor performance, according to preliminary data released today.

The district is eliminating 567 teaching jobs due to budget constraints while 163 teachers won’t have their contracts renewed “due to performance issues,” HISD spokesman Jason Spencer announced today. He noted that the numbers could change as principals continue to review staffing decisions.

The number of teachers losing their jobs for performance reasons has spiked dramatically from two years ago, when the district removed 36 teachers — out of about 12,000 — for shoddy performance, according to HISD data.

The change represents a new get-tough attitude from Superintendent Terry Grier and the school board, who have pushed principals to oust teachers who aren’t helping students.

Most school districts across Texas are eliminating jobs due to state funding cuts, but HISD’s emphasis on performance sets it apart from many nationwide, where firing unsuccessful teachers is rare.